Travel Planning at Least on Paper

     

Clear skies ahead

My mantra is I'll get through this financial stretch to end the year, then really hone in on my budget. I got a bit loosy tracking categories. While I had money set aside to pay for the cruise and ridiculous airfare, it was a bit of juggling. I plan to be much tighter with my travel account as part of sinking fund deposits.

      Tamara at My Retirement Project posted a bit ago about travel plan's extended to 2030. Thats fantastic for her, and some are not just planned but even booked. I really get inspired by her posts; truly creating an early retirement (at 50 if I'm correct) that aligns with goals for health, family, and friends, and with travel, now in comfort.

     Anyway, as I've shared, my travel notebook is getting a lot of pages created for possible destinations and itineraries. I've got side notes as well as places to visit that might include a bit of condo looking. I just am not sure when or where, (or even if) to buy a good winter snowbird destination so why not combine travel with auditioning part time homes?

     Not really snowbird destinations, but I can't help but look at potential UK areas for a part time life, with the proximity to Europe a train or short flight away to justify a long weekend. A London flat is well beyond my price point however, farther out might be doable. A walkable town or village with a train station to get to a major airport or train station would be a must as I would not drive. Buying internationally feels like I'd leave too much complexity for my kids, but short term rentals might work, particularly in November, January,  or February when I'd be sick of Minnesota winter. I don't mind walking in cold and damp, just tired by the end of January of bitter cold below10°F, and the thaw, melt, refreeze treacherous paths that make getting out on foot treacherous and leads to cabin fever. Possibilities to imagine is my idea of fun and costs nothing.

     I don't have plans to 2030, but here's my short list. 

  • March 2027 Western Caribbean Cruise (booked)
  • May 2027  weekend with sisters on a wibe/brewery/ distillery trail
  • October/November 2027 Savannah, GA with some family, but possibly a solo trip

No date projected...

  • Scotland by way of London ( hoping spring or fall 2028)
  • Door County, WI
  • Upper UP, Michigan
  • Grand Marais, MN
  • Washington State or Orgeon, PNW (Meg B we can do some planning to connect)
  • New York City with at least one or all of my kids
  • Montreal, possibly combined with a cruise
  • France, mixing a small community stay with Paris ( but not until things settle down...so sad)
  • Colorado, Utah, or there abouts for light National Park hiking trip ( hotels,, or camping cabins, no tent camping)
     I've a standing invitation to join my friend in Florida on one of her trips when her husband or daughters stay back. I want to go back to Greece, with an island stay. I think this may be my trip once my pension kicks in with my kids. I've been exploring options for a guided trip or cruise to Australia and or New Zealand. Italy is somewhere on the list too. These are  five years + out. I would not rule out a more spontaneous right price booking for a solo or friend trip. The above is a mix of big ticket, medium, and small/driving and should easily fit with my target savings per month in the travel sinking funds. I've got another idea brewing for longer, slow travel, but dependent on several family and pet needs.
     
     Now, I'm basking in the afterwards of just a simple cabin weekend with good friends. I needed to detach. Even without major caregiving duties, admittedly, I was getting a bit burnt out with daily visits and follow-up tasks with my MIL. Those of you that are regular and the primary caregivers, please take care of yourselves and take any breaks you can. 

     Your turn to paper travel. Where are you planning to go, or would if circumstances aligned?





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